On a recent visit to the Sacred Valley with my parents, I decided to embark on a mountain biking adventure for the first time from the town of Chinchero to Maras. During the adventure, we’d be stopping to visit the archaeological site of Moray, where we’d have lunch and then finish our ride at the salt pans of Maras. This mountain biking Maras & Moray trip is a great way to combine some of the key sites of the Sacred Valley while pedalling through green countryside away from the crowds. Alternatively, it's also possible to do a similar trip on foot by trekking between Maras and Moray. There are also gentler mountain biking routes in the Sacred Valley if you're looking for an easier alternative. Biking Maras & Moray in the Sacred Valley Our guides picked us up at our hotel in Yucay in the Sacred Valley at 9:00am with a van that had five bikes mounted on the roof, and we set out for the starting point of our mountain biking adventure. After a scenic 40-minute ride through the colorful farmland and meadows of the Sacred Valley, we pulled over near a trail head just outside of Chinchero. First-class biking equipment Our guides unloaded and adjusted the mountain bikes while we filled our water bottles before taking a quick practice ride. It was our first time mountain biking, so we were nervous about how we’d handle some of the more technical parts, though our guides assured us that any time we felt uncomfortable, we could always walk the bike. I’m used to urban riding and grew up riding my bike on winding gravel trails near my hometown, but these were real mountains so the top-of-the-range biking equipment was perfectly prepared to handle far more challenging trails than we were going
On a recent visit to the Sacred Valley with my parents, I decided to embark on a mountain biking adventure for the first time from the town of Chinchero to Maras. During the adventure, we’d be stopping to visit the archaeological site of Moray, where we’d have lunch and then…
Photos by Pedro Chincoa Lima’s chaotic and dusty attire can often mislead visitors about the city’s splendid and grandiose history. As the capital of the viceroyalty of Peru - a major portion of the Spanish Empire and a trade hub for precious metal and tropical goods - the coastal city was lavished with riches and served as home to those who possessed them. The Lima elite led sumptuous lifestyles, with indulgence in fine arts, delicious cuisine and social events all staples of their day-to-day routine. One place where this opulence can still be experienced is in the home of dear Aracari friend, Naguib Ciurlizza; Naguib recently moved to a penthouse apartment that spans three floors of a building in the San Isidro district. Here, he holds one part of what might be regarded as the finest private collection of art in the country. As well as the works of important Peruvian and international contemporary artists, the collection contains antiques of colonial Peru and the old world. Seventeenth-century colonial carpets, pre-Columbian textiles, fine antique china and 18th century Spanish “La Granja” crystal are juxtaposed against a Miró, Wilfredo Lam, Chadwick and the Peruvian modern artist Super Chaco. The whole apartment is an elegant menagerie of arts from throughout the ages and from across the world, skillfully arranged throughout the three floors; a testimony to Naguib’s keen eye for art and passion for acquiring it (he’s been collecting since he was a teenager). Avid followers of the Aracari blog will already be familiar with Naguib. We went to his erstwhile Lima home in February 2012 and his garden home on the outskirts of the city back in 2010, where he keeps the other part of his collection. A steady stream of Aracari guests have since visited with Naguib, and have been riveted
Photos by Pedro Chincoa Lima’s chaotic and dusty attire can often mislead visitors about the city’s splendid and grandiose history. As the capital of the viceroyalty of Peru – a major portion of the Spanish Empire and a trade hub for precious metal and tropical goods – the coastal city…
The new Astrid & Gastón Lima officially opened its doors to the public today in the San Isidro district after a few delays and much eager anticipation. After various unsuccessful attempts to contact them about their new locale (we're sure they must be inundated with calls), we decided to slip out of the office and head over there this afternoon to see what was happening for ourselves. Astrid y Gaston Lima What we found was a pale yellow mansion with tall, white pillars lining the porch and an open staircase leading up to it. We saw some staff members bustling in and out of the building and several people dropping their cars at the valet service out front before disappearing inside the building. Not quite satisfied with what we gleaned about Casa Moreyra after our brief foray into the world of investigative journalism (and admittedly, paparazzi), we scoured their facebook page to find out that Casa Moreyra, as it has been presented, will be much more than a restaurant—more of a cultural center based around the theme of Peruvian gastronomy. It turns out that Gastón Acurio grew up near Casa Moreyra when the estate was still lived in, recalling that it had a formidable presence, was a place that inspired fear and respect in the neighborhood, standing aloof with its high walls and closed doors. Now, however, Gastón and his team have spent two years restoring the mansion and have transformed it into a social and cultural center. There are several, unique spaces, each with its own ambiance in Casa Moreyra, which are the Astrid & Gastón Restaurant, La Barra, El Cielo, El Taller, El Patio and El Edén. Astrid & Gastón The restaurant will offer three separate spaces for each dining option: the tasting menu, the à la carte dining
The new Astrid & Gastón Lima officially opened its doors to the public today in the San Isidro district after a few delays and much eager anticipation. After various unsuccessful attempts to contact them about their new locale (we’re sure they must be inundated with calls), we decided to slip…
My first time in Peru was like the first time I fell in love: intense, beautiful and overwhelming. So incredible I want to talk about it, so pour yourself a drink and sit down, dear readers: here we go, destination South America, the huge Andes and the mystical history of the Incas! My first Impressions of Luxury Travel in Peru. My first stop took me by surprise: Lima. The cosmopolitan city is such a metissage (melting pot) of culture, color and style. Here the stylish, modern buildings overlooking the ocean dance with some impeccable colonial-style houses. In Lima you can either decide to spend your day surfing or, my favorite, running around art galleries and museums. I expected to visit a huge capital and did not realize the place is a living museum! The Spanish built Lima as the capital of their colonial empire, but they were not the first in doing so; pre-Inca civilizations had already constructed an important commercial center here long before. As the result of this, Lima is a living archaeological site! Everywhere you can see testimony of ancient times and a perfect introduction to understanding the importance of those vestiges is to take half a day to visit Larco Museum. The place is so charming and the visit cleverly done—it’s a must! As my guide said: Peru has too much to offer! Sculpture, incredible fabrics and of course jewelry…ladies, let’s face it, Cartier has not invented anything, they made it all before—here! After the visit, I enjoyed a delicious lunch in their terrace below the shade of magnificent tree…what a way to start my first day! My first afternoon was ideal, wandering around the BoBo (Bougeois Bohemien) area of Barranco; I felt at home here: art galleries, the contemporary art museum (MAC) and boutiques of
My first time in Peru was like the first time I fell in love: intense, beautiful and overwhelming. So incredible I want to talk about it, so pour yourself a drink and sit down, dear readers: here we go, destination South America, the huge Andes and the mystical history of…
The type of accommodation in Peru that Aracari adores most are those owner ran properties with beautiful, local details that are in touch with the surrounding environment. This is exactly what we discovered when we visited the Cuesta Serena boutique hotel in the Cordillera Blanca region of the northern Peruvian Andes. It was a sunny summer weekend in December when my colleague Mark and I ventured north of Lima. Upon arrival at the property, early in the morning, we were given a friendly welcome and a hearty breakfast on the hotel's front terrace, with views across the garden and the Cordillera Blanca mountain range. We were also greeted by a lovely welcome message from owner Mariana. Relaxing on the terrace, we were struck by the colourful textiles that adorned the furniture, and hammocks draped from the beams on the ceiling. There were also ornaments such as Toritos de Pucara, ceramic bulls that are popular adornments in the Andes, as well as embroidered cusions with flowers that reflected the various lush arrangements dotted around the garden. A pleasant atmosphere to enjoy our breakfast and take in the mountain air. Later, Mariana joined us along with her gorgeous dogs Max and Mara, who were only too eager to jump up and slobber all over us. Mariana explained to us that the hotel had opened just a year ago. The project of her late father, the idea was to build a beautiful retreat in the Cordillera Blanca away from the hustle and bustle of nearby town of Huaraz. Cuesta Serena is now popular with guests who come up to the mountains from Lima and has cemented its position as the best accomodation option in the area. We were shown to our rooms and I settled down into my suite, the "Luxury Suite", which
The type of accommodation in Peru that Aracari adores most are those owner ran properties with beautiful, local details that are in touch with the surrounding environment. This is exactly what we discovered when we visited the Cuesta Serena boutique hotel in the Cordillera Blanca region of the northern Peruvian…
This February Delfin Amazon Cruises re-launched its renovated, 28-passenger Delfin II Amazon vessel. Owner Lissy Urteaga oversaw the remodeling and design of the new additions to the Delfin II, which include a lecture room, massage and exercise room, as well as various new amenities, all customized to maximize guest comfort during their luxury Amazon cruise expedition. Delfin II Amazon Upgrades Delfin Amazon Cruises offers trips along the Ucayali tributary of the Amazon River, which runs through the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve in the Amazon Rainforest. The operator offers two luxury cruise vessels, the Delfin I and the Delfin II. Aracari has visited both ships a number of times: in 2012 Marisol (Aracari’s founder) went on a 4 day, 3 night cruise on the renovated Delfin I, and she first traveled on the Delfin II during its maiden voyage in 2009. We adore the Delfin ships and feel that they wonderfully reflect the Amazon rainforest in their details and decorations, making this an ideal way to experience the rainforest in luxury. So what’s new? The Delfin II’s new lecture room, situated on the Upper Deck, is now equipped with a projector for presentations, a computer, new lounge areas and air conditioning. There are also hand-made game tables for use during leisure time. The lecture room has been modeled after the same casual elegance and incorporation of natural elements characteristic of the Delfin vessels and will offer guests a space to socialize, relax during briefings and share photos and videos during the cruise. The massage and exercise room have been designed with windows that provide panoramic views of the changing scenery during the cruise, creating ideal settings for guests to unwind during a massage or while exercising on the gym equipment. Our friends at Delfin are pleased to offer these new facilities
This February Delfin Amazon Cruises re-launched its renovated, 28-passenger Delfin II Amazon vessel. Owner Lissy Urteaga oversaw the remodeling and design of the new additions to the Delfin II, which include a lecture room, massage and exercise room, as well as various new amenities, all customized to maximize guest comfort…
